Australia's Ice Man gives locals a lift

A FORMER Russian known as the "Ice Man" who didn't know what the Commonwealth Games were before watching the Manchester Games on television, has become the latest Australian medallist in weightlifting.

Valeriane Sarava was recruited into Australian ranks after representing the former Russian state Georgia in the Sydney Olympics and became an Australian citizen only in March last year.

And last night the 28-year-old vindicated coach Luke Borreggine's decision to urge the heavyweight to move to Sydney by taking silver in the men's 105-kilogram division at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre.

Sarava overcame injury to lift superbly but just could not overcome Canadian Akos Sandor, who added to the gold medals won in Kuala Lumpur in 1998 despite a lower-than-expected snatch lift.

Sarava came into the competition as the second-ranked lifter in the Commonwealth but had been battling with a thigh injury that eventually stopped him — but not until he had done enough to take second place.

He was equal second with Sandor after the snatch and had to hold on under fierce competition in the clean and jerk before his leg gave way during his final 195-kilogram lift that would have given him gold.

Malaysian Che Mohd Azrol Che Mat took bronze on bodyweight from Englishman Gurbinder Cheema, who led after the snatch with a lift of 152 kilograms with Sandor (150) surprisingly falling well short of his Games record snatch of 167.

Sandor made only two of his six lifts for the night but they were heavy enough to prove decisive.

Afterwards Sarava said he had his difficulties getting into the country, twice having to return to Georgia before being granted citizenship. "I want to thank the weightlifting authorities for all they've done," Sarava said.

He said he could have lifted significantly more if his preparation hadn't been hampered. "I could have snatched 165 and lifted maybe 205," he said.

That would have been enough to give him gold last night.

"I tried hard and I am very happy today … the injury (torn muscle) happened in February and I just could not last the three weeks of training," he said.

Last night's 105-kilogram event also featured a father and son pairing from the Cook Islands.

Sam Pera, 36, is a legend there, being the sportsman of the year in 1994, 1995, 2002, 2003 and 2004 while his 17-year-old son Sam Pera junior has racked up many medals in Pacific competitions.

Last night, Sam jnr had the better of his old man, lifting a total of 293 compared with his dad's 281.